(Photo courtesy of Horse & Hound)

The Junior and Young Rider Dressage Championships were held at Kronberg, Germany from 20th - 25th July this year. There was much to celebrate this year with the junior and young rider teams both improving on last year to finish fifth and sixth respectively.

Haddon Training Learner, Olivia Oakeley acted as trailblazer for the junior team, finishing 16th in the team test and 19th in the individual with her Dimiggio sired gelding, Donna Summer.

Olivia said -"I went in confident and the horse felt like he was at his best. I pushed for what I thought I could get from him".

Olivia is trained by Carl Hester who joined the teams at Kronberg in order to help Olivea work-in for her team test.  She finds that he really helps her relax before competing.

Olivia originally went to Carl for two weeks training in July 2009 and he asked her to stay on as a working pupil - a wonderful opportunity for Olivia which already seems to be paying dividends.  Olivia is currently undertaking her Apprenticeship at Level 2 in Horse Care with Haddon Training.  We wish her every success with her future career in dressage - if this is anything to go by it will no doubt be glittering.